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Some 2.5% of U.S. cats have the feline immunodeficiency virus, writes veterinarian Ann Hohenhaus. Although FIV-infected cats can have a normal lifespan, they are often plagued with oral and ocular disease, neurological problems, bone marrow malfunction and increased susceptibility to infectious diseases such as ringworm, toxoplasmosis and upper respiratory infections, adds Dr. Hohenhaus. Testing cats for FIV, keeping cats indoors and having at-risk cats vaccinated for FIV are some ways owners can help prevent the spread of the disease.

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At the AVMA Convention, veterinarian Sue VandeWoude reviewed what's known about feline immunodeficiency virus. There are five clades of FIV, and anywhere from 1% to 25% of domestic cats are infected with FIV. In rare cases, a cat may contract a highly virulent strain that can lead to immunosuppression and death from secondary causes within months of infection. However, most infected animals live with subclinical illness or no symptoms at all until they are older.

According to the Banfield State of Pet Health 2014 Report, feline immunodeficiency virus and Lyme disease cases in pets spiked last year. Banfield veterinarians saw 48% more FIV cases in 2013 than in the previous year, and they saw a 21% increase in dogs with Lyme disease. The data are based on records from 2.3 million dogs and 470,000 cats.

Cats with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) shouldn't be ruled out as pets, writes veterinarian Cindi Barker Cox. FIV isn't as easily transmitted between cats as people may think, Dr. Cox writes. Although severe health problems can occur in some FIV-positive cats, many of them live long, relatively symptom-free lives if their owners provide appropriate and timely veterinary care, she notes.

Outdoor cats face a host of risks that aren't an issue for those kept indoors, and AVMA recommends veterinarians discuss those risks with their cat-owning clients, writes veterinarian Ann Hohenhaus. Indoor cats aren't exposed to cars or rodent poisons, less prone to feline diseases and less likely to pose a threat to the health of other animals, she writes.

Annual tests for Feline Immunodeficiency Virus and feline leukemia should be standard for cats that spend any time outside, writes veterinarian Melanie Goble, and should also be performed within a month of any cat fights. FIV compromises the cat's immune system similar to HIV in humans and typically shortens the animal's lifespan; FeLV is a highly contagious cancer that usually kills infected cats within three years.